Search Augusta County Property Records
Augusta County property records are filed with the Circuit Court Clerk's Office in Staunton, which is the official keeper of all deeds, deeds of trust, plats, liens, and land instruments recorded in the county. Real estate assessment data is handled by the Real Estate Assessment Office at the Government Center in Verona. You can search property records online through the county's GIS mapping system and assessment portal. The Virginia court system at vacourts.gov also gives you access to recorded land instruments. In-person visits are welcome at both offices, and mail requests are accepted. This page walks through all the ways to find Augusta County property records.
Augusta County Property Records
Augusta County Property Records Search Methods
Augusta County offers three main ways to access property records: in-person at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office or Government Center, online through the county's digital platforms, and by written request.
For in-person searches, visit the Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 1 East Johnson Street, Staunton, VA 24401. Phone: (540) 245-5321. Fax: (540) 245-5318. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Staff will help you find relevant records, but the actual research -- searching indexes, pulling books, reviewing documents -- is up to you. Copies cost $0.50 per page for standard copies.
The Real Estate Assessment Office is at 18 Government Center Lane, Verona, VA 24482. Phone: 540-245-5640. This office handles property valuation and assessment records. The Government Center also houses the Commissioner of Revenue, Treasurer, Building Inspections, and Planning and Zoning departments. Phone: (540) 245-5600 for the Government Center main line.
Augusta County Online Property Records
Augusta County provides several online systems for property research. The county GIS portal gives free access to property boundaries, ownership data, assessment values, zoning, land use designations, and structure information. The online real estate assessment database offers property assessment data at no cost. Tax maps and parcel information are also freely accessible through the county website.
For recorded land records (deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, plats), use the Virginia Court System's Secure Remote Access (SRA) portal at vacourts.gov. SRA requires registration. Basic index data may be searchable without paying, but viewing document images requires a paid subscription. The Treasurer's Office also has an online portal for tax-related property information including current assessments, payment history, tax liens, and delinquent taxes.
The statewide assessor directory lists the Augusta County Commissioner of the Revenue at 18 Government Center Lane, Verona, VA 24482. Phone: (540) 245-5647. Fax: (540) 245-5179. Free searches through this directory include property tax and assessment records by owner name, address, or map number, and GIS parcel searches by tax map number, owner name, or address.
Augusta County FOIA and Record Request Procedures
Augusta County operates under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at § 2.2-3700 through § 2.2-3714 of the Code of Virginia. The FOIA explicitly states that all public records -- including property records -- shall be open to citizens of the Commonwealth, newspaper and magazine representatives with circulation in Virginia, and broadcast media representatives. Property records at the Circuit Court Clerk's Office are public records open to anyone, not just Virginia residents.
Standard photocopies cost $0.25 per page for black-and-white copies and $0.50 per page for color. Large format documents like maps and plats cost $5.00 to $25.00 depending on size. Certified copies carry an additional $2.00 per document. Electronic records via email are provided at no charge; records on CD or DVD cost $5.00. Search and retrieval fees may apply for requests that require more than 30 minutes of staff time.
Free inspection of any non-exempt public record is always available during regular business hours. You can view records in person at no cost; fees only apply if you want copies. The Circuit Court Clerk maintains deeds and land records; the Government Center departments handle assessment records, tax records, zoning permits, and land use information.
Recorded Deeds and Land Records in Augusta County
All instruments that affect title to Augusta County real property -- deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, liens, plats, and judgments -- must be recorded with the Circuit Court Clerk to be valid against subsequent purchasers and creditors. Under § 55.1-600 of the Code of Virginia, the circuit court clerk serves as the official recorder. Documents must be properly acknowledged before they can be recorded.
The Augusta County Clerk of Circuit Court serves as the recorder of deeds and maintains land records, marriage licenses, fictitious name certificates, and UCC financing statements filed at the county level. The clerk's office is the starting point for any search of Augusta County's chain of title. The grantor and grantee indexes at the clerk's office allow you to trace ownership forward and backward through recorded instruments.
All recorded documents must meet format requirements under § 55.1-606. Documents must be originals or first-generation printed copies and must be legible. Title 55.1 of the Code of Virginia governs the entire recordation system, from how acknowledgments are taken to how errors in recorded deeds are corrected. Chapter 6 of Title 55.1 is specifically focused on recordation of documents and is the statute most relevant to daily land records practice in Augusta County.
Types of Augusta County Property Records
Augusta County property records fall into several broad categories. Real property records cover land and permanently attached structures -- these are the deeds, plats, and title instruments at the Circuit Court Clerk. Personal property records cover vehicles, equipment, and other movable assets assessed by the Commissioner of Revenue. Tax records include assessment history, payment records, and delinquent tax information maintained by both the assessor and the Treasurer. Land use records include zoning approvals, building permits, and development information held by Planning and Zoning.
For those with limited budgets, Augusta County has several no-cost options. The county GIS Mapping Portal provides basic property data without fees. The Real Estate Assessment Database is also free. Tax maps and parcel data are available at no charge through the county website. If you prefer to avoid online searches, Augusta County Library locations provide free public computer access. The main library is at 1759 Jefferson Highway, Fishersville, VA 22939. Phone: 540-885-3961. Library staff can assist with navigating county property record websites.
The Library of Virginia's Chancery Records Index is a key resource for older Augusta County property research. Augusta County has a long history and extensive chancery court records involving land. The CRI includes scanned cases and indexed information from many Virginia localities, with a focus on pre-1913 records. For tracing chains of title on historic properties, these records can fill gaps that don't exist in modern databases.